CAPTURED BY FISHING

ANDY CROOK, NORFOLK

Reading the letter about family and fishing in Issue 341 has prompted me to write this. I have been a fisherman since childhood I am now nearly 60. Last year I became disabled due to spinal injury and my driving licences were taken away on medical grounds. This meant that I was no longer able to go fishing on my own as I live in rural Norfolk. My wife of 35 years who has been a fishing widow most of our married life has become my means of getting to the bank and also ensures that I am safe while fishing. I would only ask her to take me when the weather was guaranteed to be dry as she has no interest in our sport at all and at least could lie out in the sun reading etc. After several weeks of this during the year, she asked me if she could have a go! I was shocked, surprised and overjoyed all at the same time. I was using a rod and reel on this occasion and she didn’t get on with the casting and general use of the reel, but she said that next time could she have a go with the pole that I usually use. However, she doesn’t want to touch the bait or the fish. But I am happy with that. When asked why she now decided to have a go her answer was: “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Suffice to say that she now has her own licence, her own pole and gear. On her first visit we set her up and she baited her rig with a pellet. Within 15 minutes she had a 4lb mirror carp. The look on her face was awesome. Not bad for your first fish. I now don’t feel so bad asking her to take me fishing. The lesson here is take your other half fishing if only to sit on the bank. You never know, they may even want to “have a go” and join in.